Why injury comeback stories could define Nebraska’s year

The safety Singleton and receiver Garcia-Castaneda have been Nebraska teammates for nearly three years, both former junior-college grinders who were late adds to coach Scott Frost’s final 2022 class. They began as acquaintances and opponents, if not good friends.

Both appeared on the verge of breakout seasons last year when fate intervened. Garcia-Castaneda absorbed a hit to the side of his knee and tore his ACL in the opener at Minnesota. Singleton suffered a knee injury on the second snap he saw in game five against Michigan.

While Nebraska’s season rolled on, the two became rehabilitation regulars. While other teammates grinded in the spring, they wore yellow jerseys and served as general managers for competing Spring League squads.

Out of sight together. Until now.

“When he makes a play, makes a catch, I smile on the sideline even though it’s bad on us (in the secondary),” Singleton said. “I still smile for him, cheer him on. I love that guy.”

They weren’t alone on the sidelines as unofficial graduates of Nebraska’s crowded injury ward from last season. The group named itself “OTM,” an acronym for “Out The Mud” as players of all ages and positions worked their way back from nothing and into the light of a new year.

If the Huskers produce a long-awaited winning campaign in the coming months, underlying individual redemption stories will provide a constellation of subplots.

Running backs Gabe Ervin (dislocated hip) and Rahmir Johnson (dislocated shoulder) are both full go after undergoing season-ending injuries in their third game last year. Marques Buford — who returned in November from a knee injury in 2022 and redshirted — is a versatile contributor in the secondary. Turner Corcoran is Nebraska’s likely starting left tackle coming off a foot ailment that cost him his last four games and extended into the spring.

“I just want to put everything together,” said Johnson, entering his sixth year with NU. “Have a full, complete season of everybody seeing what I can do for this team, for this program and for the state of Nebraska.”

Meanwhile, projected starting cornerback Blye Hill (knee) went down in the Red-White scrimmage and is set to for full action sometime this month. Receiver Malachi Coleman and “Jack” linebacker Princewill Umanmielen each sat out the spring after shoulder procedures. Fifth-year walk-on wideout Elliott Brown tore his knee ligament in a November practice and has worked back since, drawing internal praise for his impact as a sort of player-coach. Defensive lineman Brodie Tagaloa sustained major injuries as part of an auto accident last summer and missed the season. “Jack” linebacker Maverick Noonan sat his freshman year after absorbing a knee injury in camp.

The collective message this month? Coming back is hard. And worth it.

“Those guys are hungry coming off injury,” said running back Emmett Johnson, who earned his chance in the wake of bad luck elsewhere. “They’ll be ready to go.”

“When they told me I’m free, I had tears go down my body,” Singleton said of being medically cleared July 1.

Buford called the support and guidance from Nebraska staffers and coaches as “top of the line.” Head football athletic trainer Chris Peduzzi and his group. Director of football rehabilitation Drew Hamblin. So many others including teammates stopping by and keeping him engaged. Coaches allow and encourage hurt players to speak up during meetings.

“A lot of guys get hurt and it’s easy to get in your head and veer off from the team and go do your own stuff because you’re not always with the team,” Buford said. “But I feel like this staff does a great job of making sure that everything is kept very tight-knit and everyone feels like they’re still a part of the family at the end of the day.”

Players freshly back on the field have other inspirations still in the locker room. Sixth-year linebacker Javin Wright detailed this month his career fight that included two blood-clot surgeries, two labrum surgeries, chipped bones, ankle-tendon tears and an MCL tear – he appeared in every game last year and is set to be a starter now. Receiver transfer Isaiah Neyor is now two years removed from tearing his ACL in Texas training camp and a potential starter. Tight end Thomas Fidone returned from a pair of ACLs with a healthy 2023 and is set to again be an offensive focal point.

“I’ve weathered the storm; I’ve already been through hell and back several times,” Wright said. “Now that I’m in this position today, I’m mentally strong.”

Other Huskers are still healing. Like Demitrius Bell – who will miss the season after a spring-game knee injury – and freshman defensive back Roger Gradney, who torn his ACL in practice last weekend. Veteran offensive tackle Teddy Prochazka did the same last week, just days after speaking with reporters about how healthy and optimistic he felt about the fall following a college career of multiple surgeries.

Prochazka was part of team meetings the evening after his injury.

Others absorbed injuries during Saturday’s scrimmage that will cost them most or all of 2024 in reserve offensive lineman Jake Peters (meniscus) and defensive back Brice Turner (broken bone in hand). Backup cornerback Jeremiah Charles also dinged a shoulder, though he’s not expected to miss extended time.

“We have a lot of guys who have been through adversity,” defensive line coach Terrance Knighton said. “They’re tough guys and they fight back from those things. As coaches and the support staff, it’s just our job to support them.”

Said D-lineman Cam Lenhardt: “It’s just that positive reinforcement that they need. We’re here for them.”

Behind the scenes, friendships forge and mettle toughens. Brown, featured this month on Nebraska’s in-house “Chasing 3” docuseries, was shown sitting on a training table next to Garcia-Castaneda working on his wrapped knee. If they can get through this, he said then, they can get through anything.

From the mud to the field. From a small group to big-time gratitude for a chance at another football season. A winning one would further heal any lingering aches and pains.

“It was like a grind because when you’re hurt you have to work two times harder than the guys that’s healthy just to catch up,” Singleton said. “That’s what we did.”